The Hellenic Navy (HN) (Greek: Πολεμικό Ναυτικό, Polemikó Naftikó, abbreviated ΠΝ) is the naval force of Greece, part of the Greek Armed Forces. The modern Greek navy has its roots in the naval forces of various Aegean Islands, which fought in the Greek War of Independence. During the periods of monarchy (1833–1924 and 1936–1973) it was known as the Royal Navy (Βασιλικόν Ναυτικόν, Vasilikón Naftikón, abbreviated ΒΝ).The total displacement of all the navy's vessels is approximately 150,000 tons.The motto of the Hellenic Navy is "Μέγα το της Θαλάσσης Κράτος" from Thucydides' account of Pericles' oration on the eve of the Peloponnesian War. This has been roughly translated as "Great is the country that controls the sea". The Hellenic Navy's emblem consists of an anchor in front of a crossed Christian cross and trident, with the cross symbolizing Greek Orthodoxy, and the trident symbolizing Poseidon, the god of the sea in Greek mythology. Pericles' words are written across the top of the emblem. "The navy, as it represents a necessary weapon for Greece, should only be created for war and aim to victory."...............The Hellenic Merchant Marine refers to the Merchant Marine of Greece, engaged in commerce and transportation of goods and services universally. It consists of the merchant vessels owned by Greek civilians, flying either the Greek flag or a flag of convenience. Greece is a maritime nation by tradition, as shipping is arguably the oldest form of occupation of the Greeks and a key element of Greek economic activity since the ancient times. Nowadays, Greece has the largest merchant fleet in the world, which is the second largest contributor to the national economy after tourism and forms the backbone of world shipping. The Greek fleet flies a variety of flags, however some Greek shipowners gradually return to Greece following the changes to the legislative framework governing their operations and the improvement of infrastructure.Blogger Tips and Tricks
This is a bilingual blog in English and / or Greek and you can translate any post to any language by pressing on the appropriate flag....Note that there is provided below a scrolling text with the 30 recent posts...Αυτό είναι ένα δίγλωσσο blog στα Αγγλικά η/και στα Ελληνικά και μπορείτε να μεταφράσετε οποιοδήποτε ποστ σε οποιαδήποτε γλώσσα κάνοντας κλικ στη σχετική σημαία. Σημειωτέον ότι παρακάτω παρέχεται και ένα κινούμενο κείμενο με τα 30 πρόσφατα ποστς....This is a bilingual blog in English and / or Greek and you can translate any post to any language by pressing on the appropriate flag....Note that there is provided below a scrolling text with the 30 recent posts...Αυτό είναι ένα δίγλωσσο blog στα Αγγλικά η/και στα Ελληνικά και μπορείτε να μεταφράσετε οποιοδήποτε ποστ σε οποιαδήποτε γλώσσα κάνοντας κλικ στη σχετική σημαία. Σημειωτέον ότι παρακάτω παρέχεται και ένα κινούμενο κείμενο με τα 30 πρόσφατα ποστς.........

Monday, June 28, 2010

Dubai opens new airport... [ 1359 ]

Dubai World Central-Al Maktoum ,
New  International Airport
AFP/Dubai


A picture released by the Dubai World Central-Al Maktoum International Airport authority shows the first plane which landed yesterday on the sole runway of the new airport, which is touted to become the world’s largest when completed, with services initially confined to cargo traffic

Debt-laden Dubai opened its second airport yesterday, three weeks after its flagship carrier Emirates placed a major order for Airbus 380 superjumbos, reinforcing its status as an air transport hub.
 
The first plane landed on the sole runway of the Dubai World Central-Al Maktoum International Airport, Dubai Airports said in a statement.
Three air freight companies have begun operations from the new airport with 12 others due to follow, it said.
The first phase is confined to freight traffic, with a capacity to handle 250,000 tonnes annually, while passenger traffic is scheduled to begin in March 2011, with an annual capacity of 5mn passengers.
“We have achieved another important step towards completing” the airport, said Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed al-Maktoum, the head of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority.
Situated on the desert outskirts of Dubai and close to the Jebel Ali port and its large free zone, DWC-Al Maktoum International is touted to become the world’s largest airport when completed at an undisclosed date.
Authorities said that when it is all up and running the new airport will be able to handle 160mn passengers and 12mn tonnes of cargo, and have five runways.
 
Dubai, a city of around 2mn people, already boasts the biggest airport in the Middle East, which handled 42mn passengers in 2009 - a figure expected to surge to 100mn by 2020, said Jamal al-Hai, Dubai Airports senior vice president for strategic affairs.
“Our development follows a strategy aimed at turning Dubai into the centre of the new silk route,” linking east to west, he said.
 
Thanks to the strategic location and developed infrastructure of Dubai, which has established itself as a popular tourist destination and a regional business hub, air transport accounts for over 25 % of the emirate’s gross domestic product, Hai said.
He said that the capacity of the current Dubai airport stands at 65mn passengers, and should increase to 75mn in 2012 with the completion of the third concourse that will be exclusively used by the A380 superjumbos.
 
Emirates, the largest Middle East carrier, had earlier this month reinforced its status as the largest single customer of the Airbus A380, by placing a new order for 32 units worth $11.5bn.
The order made in Berlin brought Emirates’ total orders of the superjumbo jet to 90 units, 10 of which are already in service.
“Emirates will be announcing new aircraft orders at the Farnborough Airshow” in England, which opens on July 19, an Emirates spokesman said.
The company is also the largest single operator of the Boeing 777 with 85 units in service and 21 on order.
 
The once bustling city state of Dubai was badly hit by the global financial crisis that forced Dubai World, the biggest state-owned conglomerate, to seek restructuring of $23.5bn of debt.
But Dubai’s ruler Sheikh Mohamed bin Rashid al-Maktoum justified this week Emirates’ new order by the “growth” in Dubai’s airport infrastructure, the number of passengers and tourists visiting the emirate.
 
“The worst is over and Dubai is looking for new opportunities for growth,” he said in an interview with CNN.
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